Prevalence and clinical outcomes of pleural effusion in COVID-19 patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Observational studies indicate that pleural effusion has an association with risk and the clinical prognosis of COVID-19 disease; however, the available literature on this area is inconsistent. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the correlation between COVID-19 disease and pleural effusion. A rigorous literature search was conducted using multiple databases. All eligible observational studies were included from around the globe. The pooled prevalence and associated 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the random effect model. Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios were produced to report overall effect size using random effect models for severity and mortality outcomes. Funnel plots, Egger regression tests, and Begg-Mazumdar's rank correlation test were used to appraise publication bias. Data from 23 studies including 6234 COVID-19 patients was obtained. The overall prevalence of pleural effusion in COVID-19 patients was 9.55% (95% CI, I2 = 92%). Our findings also indicated that the presence of pleural effusions associated with increased risk of severity of disease(OR = 5.08, 95% CI 3.14-8.22, I2 = 77.4%) and mortality due to illness(OR = 4.53, 95% CI 2.16-9.49, I2 = 66%) compared with patients without pleural effusion. Sensitivity analyses illustrated a similar effect size while decreasing the heterogeneity. No significant publication bias was evident in the meta-analysis. The presence of pleural effusion can assist as a prognostic factor to evaluate the risk of worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients hence, it is recommended that hospitalized COVID-19 patients with pleural effusion should be managed on an early basis.

Maculopapular skin eruptions associated with Covid-19: A systematic review.

In this systematic review, we anticipated in summarizing clinical features, histopathological hallmarks, and possible pathology behind the maculopapular skin eruptions occurring in Covid-19 patients. A literature search was executed using MEDLINE/PubMed and Embase databases for articles published till 20 November 2020. All eligible articles including observational studies, case reports, and case series reporting the maculopapular skin lesion in Covid-19 patients were included. Data were obtained for 354 Covid-19 patients presenting with maculopapular lesions from 40 studies. The mean age of these patients was 53 years, and with 42% of them being male. These maculopapular lesions differed considerably in terms of distribution and appearance, ranging from diffuse erythematous maculopapular lesions to scattered erythematous macules coalescing into papules to maculopapular lesions in plaques. The mean duration of the lesion was 8 days. These lesions were frequently localized on trunks and extremities. Superficial perivascular dermatitis with lymphocytic infiltrate was a histopathological hallmark of these lesions. As these skin lesions may have a possible association with diagnosis, management, prognosis, and severity of the disease, all health practitioners need to be well acquainted with these Covid-19 skin lesions. Also, in the middle of this worldwide pandemic, early identification of this eruption may help manage this infection's further spread.

Myocarditis associated with Covid-19 disease: A systematic review of published case reports and case series.

BACKGROUND: Covid-19 is an extremely contagious illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) virus. The cardiac involvement in such a public health emergency disease has not been well studied and a conflicting evidence exists on this issue. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review article aimed to compile and illustrate clinical characteristics, diagnostic findings, management, and outcomes manifesting in myocarditis linked with Covid-19. METHODS: A literature search was accomplished for published eligible articles with MEDLINE/PubMed and Embase databases. All eligible case reports and case series were included from around the world without any language restrictions. For this review, inclusion criteria were laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection cases reporting a diagnosis of acute myocarditis. RESULTS: Data from 41 studies describing myocarditis in 42 Covid-19 patients was obtained. The median age of these patients was 43.4 years, with 71.4% of them being men. Fever was the most prevalent presenting symptoms seen in 57% of patients. Hypertension was the most pervasive comorbidity accompanying these patients. Cardiac biomarkers troponin and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were raised in almost 90% and 87% of patients, respectively. Electrocardiogram findings were nonspecific and included ST-segment and T-wave changes. Echocardiogram commonly showed left ventricular systolic dysfunction with increased heart size. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) exhibited myocardial edema and injury. The most prevalent histopathological feature appreciated was diffuse lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrates. Antivirals and corticosteroids were the most frequently used medications. About 38% of patients also needed vasopressor assistance. Out of 42 patients, 67% recovered, and eight died. CONCLUSION: Because of the risk of a sudden worsening of patients conditions and myocarditis association with considerable mortality and morbidity, a knowledge of this cardiac complication of Covid-19 disease is crucial for healthcare professionals.

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever-induced liver injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a fatal acute tick-borne viral infection and substantial emerging global public health threat. This illness has a high case fatality rate of up to 40%. The liver is one of the important target organs of the CCHF virus. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this meta-analysis to evaluate the correlation between CCHF and liver injury and draw more generalised inferences about the abnormal serum markers of liver injury such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in CCHF patients. METHODS: A literature search was accomplished for published eligible articles with MEDLINE/PubMed and Embase databases. All eligible observational studies and case series were included from around the world. The inclusion criteria were articles describing liver injury biomarkers amongst patients diagnosed with CCHF. RESULTS: Data from 18 studies, consisting of 1238 patients with CCHF were included in this meta-analysis. Overall pooled incidence of at least one raised liver injury biomarker was 77.95% (95% CI, I2  =  88.50%, P < .0001). Similarly, pooled incidence of elevated AST and ALT was 85.92% (95% CI, I2  = 85.27%, P < .0001) and 64.30% (95% CI, I2  =  88.32%, P < .0001), respectively. Both Egger and Begg-Mazumdar's tests detected no apparent publication bias in all three meta-analyses (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that CCHF has a very detrimental effect on liver function. Abnormal liver function may lead to poor prognosis and increased morbidity and mortality in CCHF patients. Hence, Physicians must recognise and continuously monitor these biomarkers, since these markers may aid in early stratification of prognosis and the prevention of severe outcomes in infection with such a high case fatality rate.

Retraction: Predictors of Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17381.].

Retraction: Agreement and Correlation Between Arterial and Venous Blood pH, PO2, PCO2, Lactate, and HCO3.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18401.].

Retraction: The Impact of Charlson Comorbidity Index on Mortality From SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.19937.].

Retraction: Predictors of Quality of Life Among People Living With Multimorbidity in Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18803.].

Relationship Between Chronic Kidney Disease Staging and Vitamin D Deficiency: A Retrospective Study.

Introduction Vitamin D deficiency is a rising health issue in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). It can lead to serious issues such as rickets, periodontitis, osteoporosis, weakness, muscle ache, and depression. This study was conducted to determine the vitamin D status of patients with CKD in Pakistan and evaluate the correlation between serum vitamin D and renal function progression. Methodology A retrospective study enrolled patients who visited Liaquat National Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2015 to January 2021 with a primary diagnosis of CKD. Anthropometric, laboratory, and demographic data were collected from the hospital management information system (HMIS). Results A total of 513 patients with CKD were included in the study. More than 50% of the patients were from stage 3 to stage 5 of CKD while the rest were from stage 1 and stage 2. Significant differences are in relation to calcium, phosphate, and albumin across categories of severity of CKD. Calcium is lowest in stage 5 while phosphate is highest in stage 5. Vitamin D deficiency was found in all participants, but serum vitamin D concentration was lowest in stage 5, i.e., 8.14+6.00. The changing of vitamin D level was associated with the severity of CKD staging (p-value=0.003). Conclusion The current study has shown that vitamin D deficiency, calcium deficiency, and hyperphosphatemia are more common in patients with CKD, but their severity is more common in advanced stages of CKD.

Retraction: Relationship Between Chronic Kidney Disease Staging and Vitamin D Deficiency: A Retrospective Study.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.21221.].

Retraction: Association Between Ureteral Double J Stent Colonization and Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Severity: A Cross-Sectional Study.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.19354.].

Retraction: Comparison of the Performance of Various Scores in Predicting Mortality Among Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20751.].

Retraction: Comparison of High-Statin Therapy vs Moderate-Statin Therapy in Achieving Positive Low-Density Lipoprotein Change in Patients After Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Randomized-Control Trial.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.20710.].

Meta-analysis of incidence and outcomes of life-threatening arrhythmias in takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) or stress-induced cardiomyopathy is a transient heart condition that clinically resembles an acute coronary syndrome. This study aims to assess the incidence of life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and evaluate the outcomes of patients with life-threatening arrhythmias (LTAs) in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy compared with those without LTA. METHODS: We comprehensively searched the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase databases from inception to February 2021. The primary aim of the study was to determine the incidence of LTAs in TC patients. Other outcomes of interest were the odds of in-hospital, long-term mortality, and cardiogenic shock (CS) in TC patients with LTAs versus those without LTAs. For all statistical analyses, ReviewManager and MedCalc were used. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were included in this study involving 55,557 participants (2,185 with LTAs and 53,372 without LTAs). The pooled incidence of LTAs in the patients of TC was found to be 6.29% (CI: 4.70-8.08%; I2 = 94.67%). There was a statistically significant increased risk of in-hospital mortality (OR = 4.74; CI: 2.24-10.04; I2 = 77%, p < 0.0001) and cardiogenic shock (OR = 5.60; CI: 3.51-8.95; I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001) in the LTA group versus the non-LTA group. LTA was not associated with long-term mortality (OR = 2.23; CI: 0.94-5.28; I2 = 53%, p = 0.07). CONCLUSION: The pooled incidence of life-threatening arrhythmias in the patients of TC was found to be 6.29%. In the group of TC patients with LTAs, the odds of in-hospital mortality and CS, was higher than in the TC patients without LTAs.

Agreement and Correlation Between Arterial and Venous Blood pH, PO2, PCO2, Lactate, and HCO3.

BACKGROUND:  The aim of this study is to assess the correlation and agreement between venous blood gas (VBG) values and arterial blood gas (ABG) values in patients presented in the emergency department of the Indus Hospital, Karachi. This study also included the evaluation of specificity and sensitivity of VBGs values for the identification of abnormal ABG values. METHOD: It was a retrospective, observational study conducted at the Indus Hospital and Health Network, Karachi, Pakistan. All VBG and ABG values in the same patient which were collected at the same time from April 2020 to May 2021 were included in the study.  Results: The study involved 377 patients; 52.8% of patients were female, while 47.2% were male. The mean age of patients was 53.4 years (±17.2). There is an acceptable agreement between the arterial and venous values of pH, bicarbonate (mEq/l), and lactate (mEq/l), respectively, and poor agreement in PCO2 (mmHg) and PO2. CONCLUSION: The study found that analysis of VBG has the potential to be used in the emergency setting in general. Blood gas values of Lactate, HCO3, and pH have shown acceptable association and significant correlation, and they can be considered clinically interchangeable with ABGs values. However, venous PCO2 and PO2 were found to be different between the two.

Predictors of Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive inflammatory illness that primarily affects peripheral joints and belongs to systemic connective tissue diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis can cause varied and significant impacts on patients' health, including mental and physical wellbeing. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors affecting the quality of life of rheumatoid arthritis patients. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted in the outpatient orthopedics department of Indus Hospital and Health Network. The survey questionnaire was used to collect data from participants. The study's 36-item short-form survey (SF-36) questionnaire was used to assess the quality of life (QoL) among RA patients. Linear regression was used to assess the factors associated with the mental and physical components of QoL. Results A total of 154 patients were interviewed in this study. The mean age of participants was 48.96 (±51.35). Factors that contributed to the physical component of QoL included severity of disease, income, age, comorbidity, and anxiety while factors affecting the mental component of QoL included quality of sleep, anxiety, education, comorbidity, and disease severity. Conclusion Healthcare professionals need to work closely with patients to increase their capabilities of being more independent and controlling all the factors that can affect their QoL.

A Complicated Case of COVID-19-Induced Inferolateral Wall Myocardial Infarction Successfully Treated With Streptokinase.

The treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive patients is both controversial and challenging, particularly in a healthcare setup unable to fulfill COVID-19 protocols. In this report, we describe a case of a COVID-19-positive patient admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia treated symptomatically with a non-rebreathing mask, dexamethasone, remdesivir, and low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). On day two of the hospital stay, the patient developed inferolateral wall myocardial infarction (MI) without hemodynamic instability. He was treated successfully with thrombolytic (streptokinase) with no severe complications. However, his hospital stay was further complicated by decreasing oxygen saturation and rising inflammatory markers including procalcitonin and IL-6, suggesting superimposed bacterial infection. Thereafter, he was placed on BiPAP oxygen, and aggressive antibiotic therapy including tigecycline along with clindamycin and moxifloxacin was initiated. He showed gradual daily improvements and was discharged after a prolonged hospital stay. To decrease the exposure and spread of COVID-19 infection among the healthcare workers, when there is a deficiency in medical staff, and no negative-pressure catheterization laboratory, thrombolytic can be used for treatment in low-risk, hemodynamically stable MI during this pandemic. However, this needs further research.

Evaluating the Clinical Risk Factors Associated With Miscarriages in Women in Karachi, Pakistan.

Introduction Spontaneous pregnancy loss is unquestionably common worldwide, with roughly 5% of pregnancies ending in this way. Miscarriage can lead to serious psychological issues for women as well as their mothers. Although, it is irreversible but can be prevented through proper risk assessment of women. The goal of this study is to find clinical predictors of miscarriages in Karachi, Pakistani women. Methodology The study is a retrospective chart review that used data of women having livebirth and miscarriages at the Liaquat National Hospital Karachi Pakistan. Data of a total of 517 women were included in the study, out of which 453 have had a live birth, and 64 had miscarriages. To determine the factors associated with miscarriages, multivariable logistic regression was used.  Results The mean age of women was 31.08 (±5.10) years. Age of mother over 40 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=10.28; p-value=0.001), overweight and obesity (AOR=3.01; p-value=0.001) and history of miscarriage (AOR=2.91; p-value=0.003) are variables significantly associated with miscarriages. Conclusion Findings of the current study shown that risk factors of miscarriages included age of mother, increased BMI and previous history of miscarriages. All these factors need to be considered while providing antenatal care to mothers to mitigate the risk of miscarriages.

Predictors of Quality of Life Among People Living With Multimorbidity in Karachi, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction Multimorbidity is defined as the coexistence of more than one chronic condition in one individual. It is related to enhanced rates of disability and mortality, enhanced disease burden, decreased function levels, and it can affect the wellbeing and daily activities of people, including loss of autonomy and independence. The aim of the current study is to determine the predictors of quality of life among patients with multimorbidity in Karachi, Pakistan. Methodology It was a cross-sectional study conducted in 12 health care facilities of six districts in Karachi, Pakistan. Two health care facilities were selected from each district using a convenient sampling technique. The total sample size of this study was 690, equally distributed among 12 health care facilities. Results The majority of participants (33.47%) belonged to the age group of 40 to 49 years, while 29.85% of participants had an age between 30 to 39 years. More than half of the participants were females (50.87%). Overall, the multivariate analysis showed being male, married, younger, high educational status and employed were positively associated with quality of life. While having lower family income is negatively associated with quality of life. Conclusion The findings of this study had important implications for identifying distinct multimorbidity individuals who were at risk of a lower quality of life, and they emphasized the need for disease detection and treatment at an early stage. The study can also give important evidence for decision-makers when it comes to allocating health resources more efficiently, and health administrative departments can improve chronic disease management.

The Association of Acute Kidney Injury With Disease Severity and Mortality in COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background and objective The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a global healthcare emergency. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, has a wide range of clinical manifestations ranging from subclinical infection to multi-organ failure. In addition to the respiratory system, COVID-19 also adversely affects the kidneys. In this study, we aimed to measure the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in COVID-19 and its association with the disease severity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Materials and methods We conducted our study by following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive literature search using four databases (PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and clinicaltrial.gov) was performed. Our initial search returned 2,771 articles. After excluding review articles, duplicates, and non-relevant studies, we included 20 articles that reported an association between COVID-19 and AKI. We subsequently performed a random effect analysis to find the pooled prevalence, pooled odds ratio (OR) estimates, and 95% confidence intervals for severe COVID-19 and mortality outcomes in AKI using Cochrane RevMan (version 5.4) and R programming language (version 4.16-2). Results A total of 14,415 patients from various countries were included. Among the 20 cohorts, the median age was 55.8 ±8.39 years (range: 43-72 years), and 43.78% of the subjects were female. Out of a total of 14,415 patients, 3,820 developed AKI with a pooled prevalence of 11% (95% CI: 0.07-0.15; p<0.01; I2=98%). AKI was found to have a significant association with severe COVID-19 disease, with a pooled OR of 8.45 (95% CI: 5.56-12.56; p<0.00001; I2=0%). AKI was associated with significantly higher mortality in patients with COVID-19 with an OR of 13.52 (95% CI: 5.43-33.67; p<0.00001; I2=88%). Conclusion AKI manifests as a common COVID-19 complication, and COVID-19 patients with AKI generally have poor outcomes in terms of disease severity and mortality.